As Will Bunch puts it, this is the third non-consecutive term of Richard Nixon.

Now Trump has hired his own plumber. What’s interesting with Trump is not only does lack of experience not hurt you if you seek a job with him, it’s a requirement. The preferred Trump job applicant is someone with no relevant experience but who is a billionaire.

“President Trump plans to assign a New York billionaire to lead a broad review of American intelligence agencies, according to administration officials, an effort that members of the intelligence community fear could curtail their independence and reduce the flow of information that contradicts the president’s worldview.”

“The possible role for Stephen A. Feinberg, a co-founder of Cerberus Capital Management, has met fierce resistance among intelligence officials already on edge because of the criticism the intelligence community has received from Mr. Trump during the campaign and since he became president. On Wednesday, Mr. Trump blamed leaks from the intelligence community for the departure of Michael T. Flynn, his national security adviser, whose resignation he requested.”

“Mr. Feinberg, who has close ties to Stephen K. Bannon, Mr. Trump’s chief strategist, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, declined to comment on his possible position. The White House, which is still working out the details of the intelligence review, also would not comment.”

“Mr. Bannon and Mr. Kushner, according to current and former intelligence officials and Republican lawmakers, had at one point considered Mr. Feinberg for either director of national intelligence or chief of the Central Intelligence Agency’s clandestine service, a role that is normally reserved for career intelligence officers, not friends of the president. Mr. Feinberg’s only experience with national security matters is his firm’s stakes in a private security company and two gun makers.”

Reports that Mr. Feinberg was under consideration to run the clandestine service rocked the intelligence community in recent weeks, raising the prospect of direct White House control over America’s spies at a time when Mr. Trump’s ties to Mr. Putin are under investigation by the F.B.I. and congressional committees.

“The last time an outsider with no intelligence experience took the job was in the early days of the Reagan administration, when Max Hugel, a businessman who had worked on Mr. Reagan’s campaign, was named to run the spy service. His tenure at the C.I.A. was marked by turmoil and questions about the politicization of the agency. He was forced to resign after six months, amid accusations about his past business dealings. (He later won a libel case against the two brothers who made the accusations.)”

“Even the prospect that Mr. Feinberg may lead a review for the White House has raised concerns in the intelligence community.”

Right no experience, be a billionaire, be a buddy of Trump’s and get appointed by Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner.

We see from the case of Max Hugel there is great precedent for such a blatantly political appointee.

“Mr. Coats is especially angry at what he sees as a move by Mr. Bannon and Mr. Kushner to sideline him before he is even confirmed, according to current and former officials. He believes the review would impinge on a central part of his role as the director of national intelligence and fears that if Mr. Feinberg were working at the White House, he could quickly become a dominant voice on intelligence matters.”

“The challenge is less immediate for Mr. Pompeo. He does not see an urgent need for a review of the intelligence community, according to current and former American officials, but sees it as better than the appointment of Mr. Feinberg to a job with actual authority over daily intelligence operations.”

“Many intelligence officials question what purpose a White House intelligence review would serve other than to position Mr. Feinberg for a larger role in the future. Most significant changes to the intelligence community would require an act of Congress, a fact that would ultimately blunt whatever ideas or proposals Mr. Feinberg came up with. Even with a Republican majority in both houses, getting Congress to agree to major changes to intelligence agencies seems unlikely.”

One thing you hear now is that while Trump is a bad guy, he has a point about leaks. No he doesn’t. These are whistleblowers who are risking a lot in informing the public. Think about how much Trump could get away with without this daylight?

4) So who do you go to if you have info suggesting president may be a Russian spy? You don't go to the president. And can't go to congress. https://t.co/JgN2cNs1Q0

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Mike Sax

Congressional Candidate

I'm Mike Sax and I'm a first time Congressional candidate for the NY 2nd Congressional District. Like many Americans after the November 8, 2016-a day that truly will live in infamy-I have decided to put my hat into the ring for the first time.